cover of episode The Cult of Military Wives

The Cult of Military Wives

2023/10/31
logo of podcast Sounds Like A Cult

Sounds Like A Cult

AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript
People
A
Amanda Montell
C
Claire
C
Craig Montell
E
Emily
S
Sarah
个人财务专家,广播主持人和畅销书作者,通过“Baby Steps”计划帮助数百万人管理财务和摆脱债务。
T
Taylor
Topics
Amanda Montell: 本期节目探讨了军嫂群体的邪教特征,并与Synanon邪教进行了比较。军嫂群体表面上是互相支持的,但实际上具有隐蔽的控制性,例如强迫参与基督教活动和高昂的退出成本。她们容易成为多层次营销骗局的受害者,因为她们难以获得体面的工作,并且在新的驻地缺乏友谊。军嫂的失业率是全国平均水平的三倍,这使得她们容易成为多层次营销骗局的受害者。在Synanon,人们的职业和经济独立性受到控制,这与军嫂的经历相似。对美国社会现状的不满导致人们参与社会实验,包括邪教。Synanon有自己的销售队伍,这与一些邪教利用外部业务进行营销的模式相似。多层次营销骗局专门针对军嫂,这导致了巨额资金损失。在军嫂的经历中,身份认同的牺牲和顺从压力是邪教的特征。军嫂因长期分离、频繁搬迁和严格的礼仪规范而承受巨大压力,导致她们失去自我。军营就像邪教的据点,与世隔绝。在Synanon,人们被阻止接触外部世界,这与军营的隔离类似。Synanon和军队的一个区别在于,Synanon积极妖魔化外部世界,而军队并非如此。她认为军嫂群体属于“赶紧滚”级别的邪教,因为存在高昂的退出成本和缺乏自主权。 Craig Montell: 军队和Synanon的一个共同点是,许多新兵被告知需要军队的结构才能生存,离开军队后会失去这种结构。军队为某些人提供了拯救生命的结构,但并非所有军嫂都是如此。她对邪教的痴迷源于她父亲在Synanon邪教中的经历。Synanon始于1958年,由查克·迪德里奇创立,最初是一个吸毒者戒毒组织,后来发展成一个具有等级制度的组织。他最初对Synanon的直觉是它具有压迫性和等级制度。在Synanon,离开的人被视为“死人”,这与军嫂离婚后被朋友抛弃的情况类似。Synanon和军嫂群体都存在使家庭成员分离的现象。在Synanon,儿童与父母分开居住,因为查克·迪德里奇认为家庭会助长不良行为。Synanon存在严格的等级制度,这与军队类似。Synanon和军队都存在制服和严格的仪容规范。Synanon和军队都存在“目的正当化手段”的理念。Synanon声称保护社会,这与军队的自我定位相似。Synanon也存在积极的一面,例如“今天是余生第一天”的格言。Synanon和军队都吸引那些相信自己参与其中可以拯救世界的人。军嫂的经历与Synanon成员的经历相似,因为她们并非自愿加入,而是跟随爱人。在Synanon,个人缺乏自主权,这与军嫂的经历相似。他认为军嫂群体属于“赶紧滚”级别的邪教。Synanon有自己的销售队伍,这与一些邪教利用外部业务进行营销的模式相似。他认为Abercrombie & Fitch属于“小心为妙”级别的邪教。传统的马戏团存在剥削和等级制度。他建议人们活在当下,以避免陷入有害的邪教。 Taylor Emily Claire Sarah

Deep Dive

Chapters
The episode explores the similarities between the military wives' experience and cult-like behaviors, focusing on the conditioning, religious conformity, and steep exit costs.

Shownotes Transcript

**At long last, the man/myth/legend, Amanda's dad, Craig Montell, whose riveting stories of his childhood spent in the Synanon cult planted her fascination with all things "cultish," joins as this week's guest. In this extremely wholesome episode, Amanda and her pop analyze a quartet of listener-submitted stories, documenting four firsthand experiences with “culty” groups (from military wives to Abercrombie & Fitch) comparing each one to the surreal mindfuckery and power dynamics Craig witnessed in Synanon. The episode mostly focuses on the “cult” of military spouses... faaaaascinating how closely it resembles a bonafide '70s-era cult. But is it a Life Your Life, Watch Your Back, or GTFO?? Tune in to find out. Thanks so much to all who wrote in their culty tales!

To check out Amanda's new book, The Age of Magical Overthinking, click here! )

The Magical Overthinkers newsletter can be found here).

**Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod) **

Thank you to our sponsors!

The Cotton collection and more are available now at SKIMS.com).

Go to betterhelp.com/)cult) to get 10% off your first month

This episode reflects solely the opinions and work of Amanda and special guests.